Ghana’s push for industrial transformation received a major boost as Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant, GAC Group, expressed strong interest in establishing an EV manufacturing plant in the country.
This development follows a high-level diplomatic visit to China led by Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Minister Ablakwa, described the move as a “significant outcome” of Ghana’s renewed economic diplomacy strategy, which is now focused on attracting high-impact investments that generate jobs and accelerate technological development.
“GAC, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has agreed to give favorable consideration to Ghana for the establishment of an EV manufacturing plant,” Ablakwa confirmed during a briefing in Accra.
The minister revealed that during his official visit to GAC’s Panyu headquarters in Guangzhou, the company’s leadership expressed optimism about Ghana’s potential as a manufacturing and distribution hub for electric vehicles in West Africa.
“Ghana is poised to forge strategic partnerships that leverage our lithium discovery and economic recovery efforts for transformation and massive job creation,” Ablakwa noted.
The GAC Group, one of China’s foremost EV producers, is backed by decades of innovation and is currently among the top global leaders in electric mobility. China itself is home to seven of the world’s ten largest EV manufacturers.
Industry experts say the potential plant could drastically reduce the cost of electric vehicles in Ghana and neighboring countries, promote clean energy usage, and boost local employment across various skill levels.
“The presence of a major EV manufacturer on our soil will do more than create jobs. It opens up opportunities for local research, engineering partnerships, and supplier networks that will uplift our entire industrial base,” said Dr. Ama Nkrumah, a policy analyst at the African Centre for Industrialization.
Ablakwa expressed gratitude to GAC’s board and management for their warm hospitality and openness to collaboration, calling the engagement “a milestone in Ghana’s journey toward industrial self-reliance.”
He emphasized that future diplomatic missions will continue to prioritize strategic economic outcomes that directly benefit ordinary Ghanaians through innovation, skills development, and sustainable employment.
